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(men J. H, B. BRYAN.

Toy Bowling Alley.

No. 242,187. Patented May-31,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. B. BRYAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO CHARLES T. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TOY BOWLI NG-ALLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,187, dated May 31, 1881. Application filed April 2, 1881. (No model.)

in g is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Theobjectofmy invention is to furnish a new and useful and innocent game of skill; and to that end the invention is based on a combination'ofsimple and well-known mechanical principles, so arranged as to produce an amusing toy in the nature of a miniature bowling-alley of convenient size and shape for play-room or parlor.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the entire toy, parts being broken away where necessary. Fig. 2 is a view of the front.

A is a narrow box or trough of greater length than width, made of suitable materials, provided with an inclined bottom divided by crossbars into several parts or pockets.

A bar, B, having its upper edge narrow and straight, is so hung on a cross-bar at O as to afiord the handle end D considerable vertical and lateral play, so that at the pleasure of the operator the smooth upper surface may be made an inclined plane of variable angle. Atv the end of the bar B, beyond the bearing, is fixed a target, E, with its surface parallel to the upper sides of the box A. This target forms a part of a trigger designed to engage with the slide F when locked. in the position shown in Fig. 2. The locking device consists of acatchpin, L, on the front face of the frame, adapted to engage a corresponding notch on the slide F. The springs K K press the slide slightly against the face of the frame, and when the slide is down the lower point of the targettrigger is held by the slide perpendicularly, the target part F being horizontal. When the projectile falls on E the lower vertical part of the trigger acts as a lever to force the slide away from the catch-pin L, and the slide F is thus released and flies up. This locking arrangement is subject to variation, and the point of the target-trigger may be turned up and the slide locked from above the trigger to quite as good advantage as in the manner here shown.

F is a slide, having a vertical movement in suitable guides on the frame of the box, and pro vided with suitable wire or rubber springs for raising it to the elevated position shown in Fig. 1 when'the trigger is struck.

On the frame of the box A a bell, H, is fixed, and on the slide F a hammer, I, is'placed, adj usted so as to strike the bell and ring it when the slide is released and flies up.

The front side of the slide toward the operator maybe ornamented by a picture or other object, which is concealed when the slide is down and exposed when it is up.

The operation of this device is as follows: The slide being up, as in Fig. 1, the hand is placed on its top and it is pressed down and locked, astin Fig. 2. The object of the game is to cause a small cylinder of metal, G, or a marble, to roll down the entire length of the narrow uppersurface of the bar B and fall upon the target E, thereby releasing the slide F, and causing it to fly up and expose the ornament on its front, and at the same time ring the bell. As the bar B has a movement in every direction, care must be taken by the player to adjust its surface so that the roller will keep to it and not fall off till it reaches the target. The highest number of points to be scored are counted upon thus reaching the target. If the roll falls off short of this, it goes into one of the pockets in the bottom of the box, and points are scored increasing in value as they near the oal.

b Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Atoy game of skill, consisting, essentially, of a variably-adj ustable inclined plane, a target-trigger adapted to release a verticallymovable slide, and a suitable projectile, substantially as described.

2. Thecombinationof the adjustable inclined plane B, the projectile, the target E, and slide F, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. B. BRYAN.

Witnesses:

H. B. LUFFBERRY, WM. P. THOMAS. 

